Author Archives: Denise

tuning up; notes on spring cleanup

Posted on April 30, 2025 by Denise

I worked for 20 years in a profession famous for repetitive stress injuries to the wrists (court reporting) and never suffered from one and could only wonder what it must feel like to those having to wear wrist splints as … Continue reading →

Posted in journal, Oregon garden | 6 Comments

Lunaria annua ‘Chedglow’

Posted on April 12, 2025 by Denise

In a very mossy, narrow bed against the Oregon house, north-facing, street-facing, this dark-leaved strain of honesty sown from seed was planted out last summer. Germination was quick and robust — I had dozens of seedlings. This spring these biennials … Continue reading →

Posted in journal, Oregon garden, Plant Portraits | 6 Comments

abandonment issues

Posted on March 29, 2025 by Denise

With just one week until we depart for Oregon, the Long Beach garden has finally taken a shape that feels horticulturally logical to me, according to my tastes and the slim resources it will have available in my absence. A … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Bulbs, climate, journal, Los Angeles garden post 2024, pots and containers, succulents | 9 Comments

O Huntington!

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Denise

It’s been too long! In my absence the past few years, there are now reservation requirements, QR codes, and repeated checkpoints throughout the gardens to reverify the QR codes. There’s also sushi in the very crowded cafe to refuel after … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden travel, garden visit, succulents | 6 Comments

touring summer gardens

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Denise

Lately I’ve been dipping more and more frequently into photos taken while garden touring last summer with the Garden Fling, a highly recommended garden tour group. Compared to what’s being reported in this crazy news cycle, making and caring for … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, climate, garden travel, garden visit, Oregon garden, pots and containers | 8 Comments

Erodium pelargoniflorum and other indispensable reseeders

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Denise

Erodium pelargoniflorum is commonly described as a perennial, but it behaves as a late winter/spring annual in my zone 10 Long Beach CA garden. It reseeds as prolifically as California poppies, and sheets of seedlings carpeted the front garden every … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, journal, Los Angeles garden post 2024, succulents | 5 Comments

“garden for fire”

Posted on February 17, 2025 by Denise

This piece appeared in the Opinion section of the Los Angeles Times February 13, 2025, by historian and landscape designer Wade Graham under the title: “Do more than clear brush. Garden for fire.” I wrote to the author asking for … Continue reading →

Posted in climate, design | 3 Comments

a brief but well-timed visit to the Disney Concert Hall garden

Posted on February 12, 2025 by Denise

Sometimes I take the Metro train from Long Beach to visit family near Downtown Los Angeles. Yesterday Mitch and his daughter Domino picked me up at the usual stop on Grand Avenue, and we explored the Broad Art Musem and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bulbs, design, garden visit, MB Maher | 4 Comments

clippings 2/6/25

Posted on February 6, 2025 by Denise

The Purple Fernleaf acacia was radically limbed up while I was in Oregon, due to its canopy encroaching on neighboring roofs and fences. It was one of the more shocking sights in the garden upon our return in October. Marty … Continue reading →

Posted in climate, clippings | 6 Comments

Bloomday January 2025

Posted on January 15, 2025 by Denise

The 15th of every month occasions a long-running tradition for bloggers to post on blooms in their gardens wherever situated on the globe (started by Carol J. Michel). In my currently stripped-down SoCal garden, made lean on a diet of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bloom Day, climate, Los Angeles garden post 2024, succulents | 4 Comments